Europa League draw: Liverpool and Manchester City await groups

Liverpool have been seeded second for Friday’s Europa League group stage draw in Monaco, but Manchester City face the prospect of meeting one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

The Reds are in the first pot of seeds following their 3-1 aggregate win over Trabzonspor, but there are several teams in the second pot they will want to avoid.

Liverpool will be hoping to avoid Dynamo Kyiv (PA)

A trip to Dynamo Kyiv would be tough, while Italian clubs Sampdoria and Palermo, Turkish giants Besiktas and Spanish side Getafe are all possible opponents.

Liverpool may prefer a rematch with Lille, following their 3-1 aggregate win over the French side in last season’s last-16, or to be drawn against Steaua Bucharest, Anderlecht, Bayer Leverkusen, Paris Saint-Germain or Bruges.

Manchester City will avoid all those clubs, as they are also in the second pot of seeds following their 3-0 aggregate victory over FC Timisoara.

Roberto Mancini, who has set his side the target of reaching the final, will be hoping to avoid holders Atletico Madrid from the first pot, along with Sevilla, Juventus, CSKA Moscow and Zenit St Petersburg.

Instead he will be hoping to be drawn alongside Porto, Villarreal, PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon, Stuttgart or AZ Alkmaar.

Borussia Dortmund and Napoli look to be the toughest teams in pot three, while Aston Villa’s conquerors Rapid Vienna and Tottenham’s Champions League play-off opponents Young Boys are the clubs to avoid from pot four.